THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2006
MEN'S BASKETBALL
PAGE 1B
Could he jump?
VITAL STATS
DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
As the lights keep getting brighter, Kansas freshman Brandon Rush keeps getting better
This Sunday when Kansas plays host to Oklahoma, the lights will be as bright as they have been all season. The game will be televised on CBS on a day when college basketball action will be light. Rush will have an opportunity to show the country just how good he is and how good he can be.
And make no mistake about it: Rush will show the country how good he is and how good his team is.
The guard has seen big games this season as an opportunity to step up and carry the team on his back. Against Kentucky, with Dick Vitale announcing the game and Ashley Judd in the arena, Rush registered his first double-double of the season scoring a career high 24 points and grabbing 12 boards.
Against Iowa State, Rush again had a double-double on national television. Then on Monday night, again with the whole country watching, Rush put fear into the rest of the conference. The Texas Tech game made it clear that he was still getting better every game and so is the entire team.
It doesn't matter how bright the lights are for Rush, he always seems to have his confident smile going before and after the game. But during the game is when his smile is the most fun to watch.
Every time he gets the ball, Rush is capable of doing something productive. Whether it's stopping and shooting from the three-point line, where he has hit more than 50 percent of his shots, or driving to the basket and making an acrobatic layup or dunk, Rush never seems fazed.
Unfortunately, now that Kansas fans are seeing just how good this kid is, and the whole country is starting to get a glimpse of Rush, his KU career might be over before it's fully enjoyed.
Every time Rush's name is brought up
Even in the rowdiest of arenas, like Mizzo Arena, Rush performs.
in conversation, the question is invariably asked: How long do you think he will stay at Kansas?
The answer is anything but simple.
These days, NBA teams draft more on a player's potential than how he is playing right now.
Rush seems to combine the two categories. The upside on Rush is amazing. He is truly improving every game: Each game, he does something he didn't do in the previous game. His potential is scary.
This is the first time when all the focus has been just on Rush and not on his brothers or his eligibility.
It will be interesting to see how Rush continues to handle the bright lights. So far, he has yet to disappoint. No other freshman in recent history has had this big of an impact on Kansas basketball.
Think for a moment about how big of a statement that is.
Not Kirk Himrich, Nick Collison, Wayne Simien or even Paul Pierce had this big of an impact his freshman season.
Rush's 14. 6 points per game is tied with Danny Manning for the most ever by a freshman. That's pretty good company.
All indications are that Rush's 14.6 points a game will continue to rise. He will continue to get better, and when the season's over, Rush will have an extremely tough decision to make.
Does he come back to Kansas and continue to get better under Kansas coach Bill Self and learn more about the game, all the while building a championship-caliber team with other freshmen Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright? Or, does he take the cash and start playing for a living?
It's a simple question with a complicated answer. But, one thing is for sure—no matter how bright the lights, Rush will continue to perform.
Berk is a St. Louis senior in journalism.
BASEBALL
Home runs, excellent pitching lead to first victory of 2006 season
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Starting off the first game of the season, Hilo's Chris Campbell singled through the right side of the infield. The Vulcan left fielder had the first hit of the season after Kansas flew to Hawaii for the game opener.
Campbell's single had fans wondering if the Jayhawks were nervous about their first game of
As if on cue, Kansas freshman catcher Buck Afenir gunned down Campbell as he stole second, and settled worries about game one. Shortly thereafter, Kansas began work on an 11-1 blowout.
the spring, and it if a few kinks still needed to be worked out.
"Yeah, he was pretty pumped, and really, all of us got pretty pumped," said senior pitcher Kodiak Quick. "Our guys really played some good defense."
Quick (1-0) struck out Hilo's
first batter of the game, surrendered a hit to the second and followed that with another strikeout. The Vulcans ended with seven hits, but struggled to string anything together against Quick.
Those seven hits were intermixed with six strikeouts and just one walk, resulting in no substantial production until a brief stint in the fifth innning. Center fielder Dayne Ogawa's single to right field knocked in the player on third to score Hilo's lone run of game one.
which made the score 5-1.
In contrast, the Jayhawks slow start lasted all of three outs. Senior right fielder Gus Milner lead off the second inning with a solo shot to left center, his first home run of the season in his first at bat. With a runner on base, sophomore designated hit Brock Simpson, Afenir and center fielder Matt Baty each hit a single to tack on two more runs to end the second inning.
That would be all the runs
Quick made his exit before the eighth inning. He permitted a run and a walk, and he matched each of his six hits allowed with a strikeout.
Kansas would need, but not all it would score.
The Jayhawks hot offense produced 14 hits, including a pair of home runs and four Hilo pitching changes. Baty and Milner led the offense, each hitting 3-6. Milner nabbed two RBI while Baty had three.
1
As promised, Coach Ritch Price gave his freshmen a look and lifted Quick for right-hander Paul Smyth. Carter Holt, who took a redshirt last year, finished pitching the game. Neither player allowed a run.
"Really, I think all of our young guys played well," Quick said.
Finishing up a five game stand, Kansas will stay for a doubleheader tomorrow.
Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek